Convertible sofa



June 19, 1951 L, RQBlNSON 2,557,692

CONVERTIBLE SOFA Filed June 9, 1948- 3 sheets-sheet 1 INI/EN TOR. ou/s Kas/waan.

lrroRNEY.

June 19, 1951 l.. ROBINSON CONVERTIBLE SOFA 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1948 IN V EN TOR. OU/S ROBINSON.

Arron/ven June 19, 1951 L. ROBINSON t 2,557,692

CONVERTIBLE soFA Filed June 9, 194s 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a' eo Ma-W Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES reATsNr oF Fica CONVERTIBLE' SOFA LouisRobinson, Detroit, Michi ApplicationJ'lme 9., 1948, Serial' N o. 31,950

(Cl. --21).v

4' Claims. l:

This inventionrelates to convertible combina-y tions of sofa and' bed'y andmore particularly to a sofa construction which is readily converti ble to a fulll sized double bed.

Heretofore various constructions have been provided' for converting the sofa to a single or one and a half size. bed, however it is theprincipal' object of this invention to provide a novelV sofa construction which is4 convertible to a fullsize double bed as'. and; when desiredi It is the furthervobject ofv this' invention tov provide a secondarybedspring andmattress support which is normally-stored in a loweredv position beneath' and within the sofa construct-ion but which is adaptable forA transverse outward movement therefrom,v said secondary bedspri'ngand mattress support including operative mechanism which will: hold' theV same in its loweredi inoperative position, but" whichl is also` adapted to effect upward adjustment thereof for bringing'the same into alignment with the correspond-- ing mattress support which' forms apart of the' couch itself.

These and many'other'objects will be-seen from the following' specification' and claims in con-- junction with they appended drawings i'nwhich:

Figure '1 is a perspective view of the conver' tible couch and bed, with the coucl'r backrest elevatedl to a substantially vertical position to; provide a single bed.

Figure 2 is an endl elevational View of the couchbut' with al sidey arm removed to.` show the con--A struction ofv the secondary spring and mattress support andi its'. positioning: within thef conch base.

Figure; 3 is asimilar. view; butV showing the: sec:- ondary mattress support'moved. outwardly fromthe. frame' of.' the couch, andl elevated toV itsop-- erativey position.

Figure/i is a4 partially sectioned plan view taken onV line lle-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan sectionv taken onl line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an.elevationalsectiom fragmentarily shown, on line 6 6 of- Figure 3.

Figurev 7 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line-r T--l of Figure 2.

It wilI be understood that the above'drawings illustrate merely a preferable em'bodinlentV oi the invention. and that other embodiments are contemplated. within. the scope of the claims hereafter set out.

Referring to'Figure 1 thev convertible couch is shown includingspacedI side Yarms H- and' I2, the

2v covered; mattress support 25, with mattress: Il!l thereon, andthe upright-back' element. I5.

' Back rest I5- is shown Ain aretracted elevated position resting and retainedv within. the rear wardly extending recessedv portions. |14 ofA the;

blocks I8 which are secured to the interiorrear:l portions respectively'ofside arms II and I2.

As shown iii-Figure Zitheupper end of back-restiy I6 is hinged at I3 to the normally horizontal, straight topped element I-SL. which in. turn,` is hingedly kjoined at 20v to the upper portion'. ofthe. couch back I5.

When used as a couclr back top |19; will bei in:y ahorizontal position with its.. forward. portion; resting upon the peak:4 2l` of. block. I8.l and` witir bach rest'` I6` bearing against' the inclined rear-- wardly extending edge 22 also formingzapart-ofi bloclr I8. It isv contemplated. that there are: two of? such blocks,` andl tha-t1 the respectiveY oppositeI endsof' back' top i9 as4 wellv aszback: rest'. Ig61a'ref; adapted for cooperative engagement. withy the sur;- facesl of said blocks.

It'l willi be seen that with. the. backrest; t6. and; flat topped portion IB'. pivoted` and elevated; to the vertical position shown. in Figures.I 1 andi 2; the couch is. now converted. for use; as; a. single bed.

Referring to. Figures 3,. 5V and 6.. right: angled supports 23' arerespectively secured. in a horizontall position'. to:A the interior wallsv of.l side arms II. and. I2 by means of" the screws; 24j. A hollow. rectangularly shaped spring frame; Z5 including', the crossed spring ele-ments 26; is positioned be-.-L tween side arms` II and I2'. and against the back I5`, and rests. at its ends upon right angle; sup'- ports. 23.

Spaced centering pinsA 2--11 project downwardly from end portions of spring support25' as shown in Figures and' 6;- and are' adapted forcooperative retaining registry withinl correspondingspaced` vertical openingsi'n the inwardly projecting flanges which form a part of supports 23'.

By this construction mattress supportr 2`51 is positioned and reta-inedy iny its proper position with respect to theside arms and back portion, of the convertible couch, and theconventional suitably coveredv mattress IlI` is positioned' upon support 25-26 as best seen in Figures l andf 3.

A secondary hollow rectangularly'shapedl mat'- tress support 29 including the suspended intersecting spring elements' 30- is positioned' in alowered position directly below the couch spring support 25 asfshown in Figure 2. ThisV support rests upon rollers 30" upon the floor upon which the couch i'sy mounted) and is" adapted' to be rolled outwardly from the front part of the couch and be elevated to the position shown in Figure 3, a suitable mattress 3 being provided for positioning thereon and in alignment with the conventional couch mattress |4 to thereby provide a complete double sized converted bed.

As viewed in Figures 3 and 4 two pairs of crossed legs 28 and 3| are each centrally pivoted at 32, one pair being arranged at each end of secondary spring 29-30, being pivotally joined thereto at points 33 and 34 at their upper ends.

The pivotal supports 33 for the legs 28 at opposite ends of spring 29-33 are substantially stationary being mounted upon the hanged elements 35 which are suitably secured and project into the interior of said spring, being spaced inwardly of its ends to provide clearance for the other pivotal legs 3|.

The upper ends of each of the legs 3| have an outwardly projecting guide pin which is the aforesaid pivotal support 34, said pins extending through the longitudinal slots 35 formed within the rear ends respectively of said spring. As shown in Figure 2 the legs 28 and 3| are collapsed towards a horizontal position so that the supporting pins 34 are mechanically moved rearwardly within the corresponding slots 35, as contrasted with their forward position therein as shown in Figure 3.

A strong coiled spring 36 is interposed betweenthe upper ends of the collapsible legs 28 and 3| being respectively secured thereto at points 31, said spring being in its normal unexpanded position in Figure 3. However, in the collapsed position of legs 28 and 3| both of the coiled springs 36 at opposite ends of spring 29-30 are substantially elongated and stretched to the point that when the spring frame 29 is moved outwardly and released said frame will automatically assume the elevated position shown in Figure 3.

A short link 38 is joined at one end to the supporting pins 34 on the outside of frame 29 with its other end pivotally joined at 39 to a central portion of the lever 40. One end of said lever is pivotally joined at 4| to the end of frame 29 while its other end is pivotally joined at 42 to the inner end of the actuating lever 43.

The outer'end of lever 43 is in turn pivotally joined at 44 to the operating lever 45, whose other end is pivotally joined at 46 to the normally vertical secondary spring operating board 41. As shown in Figure 2 the board 41 is hingedly joined at 48 to the outer end of secondary frame 29 and is in upright position projecting above the same. At the same time the two levers 45 and 43 are in longitudinal alignment with their oppositely extending formed end elements 49 and 5U cooperatively engaging each other as shown in Figure 7 to prevent further pivotal movement of said levers about their common connection 44.

Referring to Figure 3 it is seen that frame 29 has been moved outwardly from under the sofa proper upon rollers 30 at the lower ends of supporting legs 28 and 3|, and has been permitted to assume the elevated position shown with operating board 41 having been rotated 180 degrees to the position shown.

In this position it will be seen that link 38 has moved forwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 and the short lever 4D has pivoted in a clockwise direction in excess of 90 degrees. The connecting end at 42 of lever 43 is elevated as shown in Figure 3, and by action of the operating board 41 in being manually rotated 180 degrees, said long lever 43 has been forwardly projected till its outer end at 44 is positioned at the end of frame 29, and at the same time operating lever 45 has assumed a vertical position.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the short connecting link 38 has a central concave portion 5| which permits said link to clear the pivotal connection 4| as lever 4G and said link are moved forwardly in the opening of the secondary frame 29.

By downwardly swinging the board 41 from the position shown in Figure 2 the alignment of lever elements 43-45 is broken and the legs are released so that the coiled springs 36 are now effective causing frame 29 to elevate.

The mattress 3|' which is carried upon frame 29 is normally positioned below the sofa proper when not in use with its weight tending to partially counterbalance the coil springs 36 which in the position of the removable element of Figure 2 are substantially extended.

Referring to Figure 3 the weight of mattress 3| assists in downwardly projecting the frame work 23 towards the floor against the action of springs 36. In the lowered position the board 41 has been swung to a vertical position as shown in Figure 2 and by the arrangement of the levers 45 and 43 will remain in said lowered position until and unless released by downward swinging of the control board 41.

Spacer bar 52 is interposed between side arms and l2 at their lower rear portions, there being a longitudinal slot 53 formed therein at one end. A corresponding spacer bar 54 is joined to and interposed between the lower ends of the corresponding rearwardly extending legs 28 of the removable element, said spacer 54 being similarly and correspondingly slotted at 55.

A pair of cross bars 56 and 51 are centrally and pivotally joined to each other at 58 with one end of bar 56 anchored to the spacer bar 52 at the end thereof opposite to its slot 53. The other end of bar 56 has a downwardly extending element 59 shown in Figure 3 which guidingly and retainingly extends within longitudinal slot 55 in spacer 54.

Similarly one end of bar 51 is swivelly anchored at 60 to the end of spacer 54 opposite from its slotted portion, with the other end of bar 51 having a downwardly extending retaining element 6| Figures 2 and 4 which guidingly and retainingly projects within slot 53 of spacer 52. Consequently bars 56 and 51 cooperate to limit the outward adjustment of the frame 29 maintaining the same in parallel relation to the couch frame 25, the respective ends of said rods sliding outwardly within slots 53 and 55 as frame 29 is returned to the position shown in Figure 2.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

I claim:

l. In a collapsible mattress support, a pivotally joined pair of crossed legs at each end thereof, resilient means interconnecting the legs of each pair above their juncture, one of each of said pairs of legs being'pivotally joined to said support with the other slidably joined thereto, permitting vertical adjustments of said support while remaining in a horizontal position, a vertically positioned front board pivotally joined to said support along its front longitudinal edge, and a toggle linkage interconnecting said board and the sliding connection of said legs to control vertical movements of said support.

2. In a collapsible mattress support, a pivotally joined pair of crossed legs at each end thereof, resilient means interconnecting the legs of each pair above their juncture, one of each of said pairs of legs being pivotally joined to said support with the other slidably joined thereto, permitting vertical adjustments of said support while remaining in a horizontal position, a vertically positioned front board pivotally joined to said support along its front longitudinal edge, and a toggle linkage interconnecting said board and the sliding connection of said legs, whereby said board extends upwardly from its pivotal connection when said support is vertically collapsed, but extends downwardly therefrom when said support is vertically expanded.

3. In a vertically collapsible mattress support, a pivotally joined pair of crossed legs pivotally joined to said support at each end thereof, coiled springs interconnecting upper portions of the legs of each pair, there being a sliding connection between said support and one of each of said pairs of legs, a vertically arranged board pivotally joined to the front longitudinal edge of said support, and a toggle linkage interconnecting said sliding connection and said board, whereby when the latter is positioned above its pivotal connection said linkage will be effective to lock said support in a vertically lowered position, but which when pivoted below its pivotal connection, said linkage will be effective to permit said coiled springs to cause an automatic upward adjustment of said support.

4. In a convertible sofa and bed including a mattress support, a second horizontally arranged mattress support normally positioned under said rst support, a pivotally joined pair of crossed legs at each end of said second support, resilient means interconnecting the legs of each pair of legs above their juncture, one of each of said pairs of legs being pivotally joined to said second support with the other slidably joined thereto, permitting vertical upward adjustments of said second support when removed from under said rst support, a vertically arranged front board hingedly joined to the front horizontal portion of said second support, and a toggle linkage interconnecting said board and the sliding connection of said legs, whereby upon pivotal degree downward movement of said board, said linkage is released to permit automatic upward expansion of said second support by said resilient means, and upon a further 90 degree downward movement of said board said linkage will be effectively locked to retain said second support in its upwardly adjusted position.

LOUIS ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,135,697 Woller Nov. 8, 1938 2,150,879 Fox Mar. 14, 1939 .2,162,146 Wesley June 13, 1939 2,291,392 Krakauer July 28, 1942 

